crews used saws to dismantle the 1957 aero commander, which experienced engine failure shortly after takeoff. fortunately, no one was hurt. >>> and no vehicle is safe in detroit, not even the mayor's. an suv, part of the mayor's security detail, was robbed of its wheels and put up on cinder blocks. the vehicle was parked outside a gated detroit condo, but it's not clear why the vehicle was there. police are now investigating. >>> now for a look at your national and regional weather, let's check in with nbc meteorologist bill karnins witha busy weather channel forecast. bill? >> good morning, lynn. all eyes are on earl. this is a monster of a storm, one of the strongest to threaten the east coast of the united states. it's been since 1950, a hurricane called helene, that was a category 4 that approached the outer banks, and this one is also a category 4 storm. if this track goes inland, just any little deviation, this could be a very destructive event. as of now, though, it's supposed to remain just barely off the coast. here's the forecast path from the hurricane center, showing it g